The City of Sacramento has officially launched its new Limited Entertainment Permit (LEP), offering a more accessible option for businesses where entertainment is a secondary use.
The permit is tailored for venues with a maximum occupancy of 299 and is intended for businesses not traditionally considered entertainment venues, such as restaurants, coffee shops and wine bars.
Approved by the City Council earlier this year, the LEP was developed as a collaboration between the Office of Nighttime Economy and the newly-formed Entertainment Services Division.
“The new Limited Entertainment Permit is a significant step in supporting Sacramento’s creative economy,” said Melissa Romero, Entertainment Services Manager. “By simplifying the permitting process, we’re making it easier for businesses to host live entertainment while ensuring compliance with the City’s noise and occupancy standards. This initiative creates more opportunities for local artists and enhances the city’s social vibrancy.”
The new permit aims to expand entertainment opportunities across a broader range of business types and neighborhoods, while bolstering the City’s creative economy. It is part of a broader effort to support Sacramento’s vibrant nightlife, live music scene, and social economy while removing traditional barriers for smaller establishments.
Under the permit, entertainment can be offered until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Unlike the City’s general entertainment permit, which costs over $2,000, the LEP has a lower fee of $750 for a two-year term, with renewals costing $650.
The LEP also supports equity by encouraging entertainment offerings in neighborhoods beyond downtown and midtown.
“I’m excited about the new limited entertainment permits and what they mean for our corridor,” said Candace Brooks, executive director of the Del Paso Boulevard Partnership. “This is a long-awaited opportunity for our restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, and lounges to legally activate their spaces with live entertainment. It’s a major step forward in supporting our local businesses, enhancing the cultural vibrancy of our district, and creating more reasons for people to explore and enjoy all that Old North Sacramento has to offer.”
The creation of the LEP stems from recommendations in the Sociable City Assessment and the Sacramento Music Census, both of which emphasized the need for more flexible and scalable entertainment permitting to nurture the region’s growing music and nightlife culture.
Learn more about City of Sacramento entertainment permits here.
